Combination blind and awning



March 2, 1954 s. M. DEL RIO COMBINATION BLIND AND AWNING 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed March 19, 1955 MM/mm M 2/0 a, 0M MM ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954COMBINATION BLIND AND AWNING Filed March 19, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fATTORNEYS s. M. DEL RIO 2,670,792

March 1954 s. M. DEL RIO 2,670,792

COMBINATION BLIND AND AWNING Filed March 19, 1953 s Shee ts-Sheet 5 ML 1400? /7. DEL 9/0 I Z11 QM wazm ATTOR N EYS Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a combined window blind and awning of the typegenerally disclosed in the U. S. Patent No. 1,917,449 of July 11, 1933,to H. H. Koller which embodies a swingably mounted frame in which aclosure element or panel is vertically slidably disposed, the frameswingably depending from a horizontal axis so that it may be positionedin a depending vertical plane to function as a blind, or may be disposedin an outwardly and upwardly swung position to function as an awning.

A primary object of the invention is to provide such a device in whichthe conversion thereof from a blind to an awning or vice versa may becontrolled solely by the sliding movement of the closure element, saidclosure element preferably, though not necessarily, being operablethrough means located in the interior of the structure on which thedevice is used whereby the entire operation of the device may be readilyeffected from the interior of the structure without the necessity ofopening the window.

An important feature of the invention consists in the combination withsuch a swingably mounted frame and the closure element slid abletherein, of a rigid swingably erecting arm having a free end which maybe disposed for movement with and swung by the said closure element, tothus swing the frame and closure element responsive to sliding movementof the latter.

Further important objects are: to provide an automatically establishableand releasable connection between the closure element and the arm, andthus permit movement of the closure element independently of the armwhile nevertheless establishing the desired connections between theseparts as required for their mutual cooperation; to provide means forautomatically positioning and maintaining the erecting arm out ofoperative engagement with the closure element during use of the deviceas a blind, thus permitting unimpeded raising and lowering of I saidelement; to provide in such a device a latch V mechanism whichautomatically engages to retain the frame in vertical position for useof the device as a blind, in combination with means establishing anoperative connection between the latch mechanism and the closure elementat a predetermined raised position of the latter, whereby raising of theclosure element past said position will release said latch mechanism; toprovide resilient means operable upon release of saidlatching mechanismto swing the frame away from vertical position sufliciently to preventreengagement of the latching mechanism upon subsequent lowering of theclosure element and for simultaneously projecting the free end of theerecting arm into the path of movement of the closure element so thatthe subsequent lowering of same will swing the arm downwardly and erectthe device for use as an awning; and, to so arrange the several parts ofthe device that conversion of the device from an awning to a blind maybe accomplished by rapid raising of the closure element, the consequentrapid downward swing of the frame imparting sufficient momentum theretoto overcome the force exerted by the aforesaid resilient means andpermit return of the frame to vertical position, with consequentreengagement of the latching mechanism and return of the erection-arm toinoperative position.

In this application I show and describe only the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, simply by way of illustration of the practice thereof, asby law required. However, I recognize that my invention is capable ofother and diiferent embodiments and that the several details thereof maybe modified in various ways, all without departing from my saidinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and description herein are to beconsidered as merely illustrativeand not as exclusive.

In the accompanying drawings:

, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a buildingshowing one of the devices of the invention applied to the windowthereof; the device being erected for use as an awning;

Figure 2, a front elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, showingsame as it appears when disposed in vertically depending position foruse as a blind, the closure operating reel being shown diagrammatically;

Figure 3, a fragmentary enlarged rear elevation showing the erectingarmand adjacent cooperating portions of the device;

Figure 4, an enlarged broken vertical section on the line i4- of Figure2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the device in fulllines as it-appears when in vertically depending position for use as ablind, and in broken lines as it appears when erected for use as anawning;

Figure 5, a section on the line 55 of Figure 3, looking in the directionof the arrows;

Figure 6, a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the frame in anintermediate position as it appears immediately following the release ofthe latching means, after having been swung outwardly by pressure of theresilient spring, the

arm being simultaneously projected into the path of movement of theclosure panel; and the extent of the swinging movement being somewhatexaggerated for convenience of illustration; and

Figure '7, a detail perspective view of the erecting arm of thepreferred embodiment.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, and firstconsidering Figure l, the numeral l therein designates the side wall ofa usual building structure having a window opening in which is disposeda rigid supporting frame 2, the building and frame in the presentinstance serving as the support for the combined blind and awning of theinvention'which, 'in'the drawings, is disposed for cooperation with thewindow opening to function as either a blind or an awning for same.

Fixedly disposed at the top of the frame Zare brackets 3 from which themovable frame of the device swingably depends for movement about thehorizontal axis defined-bythe pivots 5. The movable frame comprisesrelatively transversely opposed rigid'guides which may be in-the form ofusual channel irons 5. Where the channel irons 5 do not extendcompletely to the bottom of the window opening, supplementary stationaryguides or extensions e may be disposed in the window opening beneaththe'respective guides 5, as shown, to be in relative alignment therewithin the perpendicular position of the movable frame, as shown inFigure'2, to guide the closure panel or element '1 completely to thebottom of the window opening.

The closure panel or element, generally designated I, is slidableupwardly and downwardly in theframe 5'-5 through the uppor'end orextremity thereof, and in the-preferred, form may consist of a pluralityof flexibly connected panels disposed horizontally between therespective guides .5 and having their ends slidably received and guidedin the channels of. said guides. However, the particular construction ofthe closure panel isnot essential to the invention considered from .its.broader aspects.

Suitable mechanism for raising and lowering the closure panel or element7 may be in the form ofa usual reel 8 .(shown in Figure. 2) which mayberotatably disposed either within the wall or interiorly of the building,above the window opening. The element 1 passes through a horizontal slot10 in the wall above the window opening to be wound and unwound from thereel 9. Control of the reel from the interior of the building to raiseor lower the closure element 7 or to maintain it in any desired positionmay be accompished in any .known manner, as disclosed for instance inthe U. S. patent to HJI-I. .Koller, No;"1,917,449.

Latching mechanism for maintaining the frame members orguides'2 invertically depend.- ing position, as shown inFigure i, may comprisespring loaded hooks or latchpawls H pivotally connected to each of saidguides 2 and resiliently swung or urged downwardly by springs 12 intoabutment with stops l3 carried by theirrespective guides. The lower edgeof each of said pawls is notched as shown to receive a latch pin !4fixedly positioned withrespect to the supporting structure I, as bybeing fixed to the relatively aligned stationary guide extension 5 ofeach guide. Each saidpawl l I is formed with a usual sloping cam edge 15forwardly of its notch to automatically retract the latch pawl or hookI! asits associated frame member 5 is swungdownwardly to closed orvertical position so that the latch pin l4 may be operatively receivedin its notch. Thus it will be seen that the latch mechanismautomatically reengages upon lowering or closing of the movable framemembers 5.

As heretofore noted, the latch mechanism may be released by movement ofthe closer element or panel 1 upwardly beyond a predetermined raisedposition, means being provided for establishing an operativeconnection-between the latch mechanism and the closure element '1 'atsuch position as to release said mechanism responsive to continuedraising of the closure element.

While such an arrangement may conceivably assume anyof anumber ofdifferent forms within the. :scope'of the-invention, I prefer to utilizethe particular arrangement illustrated in which the connection isestablished through the rame 2--2 of the device. In such illustratedarrangement the frame is rendered" upwardly displaceable in any suitablemanner, as .by forming its hinge mounts. it .in the form of downwardlyopening 'Uehooks, as shown, which, are rotatably-caught over thepivotpins 6 of themounting brackets .13.

The operative connection is established through engagement of stops'B-Band 8-'-8 respectively carried adjacent the lower extremity of the.closure element and the upper portionsof the respective frame members5,,the. stops.8-.8 engaging the respective stops 8 8 as theclosureelement"? approaches the upper limit of itsmovement. Obviouslycontinued upward movement of the closure element "1 after the stops thusengage will cause bodily upward movement of the entire frame and thuswill cause the latch pawls H carried thereby to disengage .ffrom. their.respective latch pins M, allas shown in Figured.

In practice, the hinged mounts l6 and pins .4 will bedisposed to thesides and out-of the path of movement of the closure element or panel Iso as notito obstruct same, and it. will be noted that thehookedconformation of the mounts it in this particular arrangementpermits easy removal and replacement of the frame .membersfi from thebrackets 3.

A rigid erecting arm or brace H is vpivotally mounted on the supportingframe or structure as at I8, for'swinging movement in a vertical plane,separate such. arms preferably being disposedfor cooperation with therespective .guides or frame members 5. In its vertically dependingposition, each guide or framemember iahuts againstits respective braceor arm, as at iii, to maintain same in an upwardly .swung or retractedposition with thefree end .of the brace disposed .out of the path ofmovement of theclosure panel I, so that said panel may be freely raisedand lowered during use of, the .deviceasa blind. (See Figured.)

In the arrangement shown by way of exemplification, the free end portionof each arm I! is freely verticallyswingable through a vertical slot IIin the rear wall of its channel member or guide 5 (see Figures 3, 4 and5,) with its-free end extremity or tip 20 offset inwardly fromtheremainder of the arm and disposed in the guide channel or groovewithin the guide 5'. This tip or free end extremity 28 is flat andrelatively thin, and is disposed so that it will lie flat against theinner face of the member Sin the retracted or raised position of the armH, as shown in Fig ure 4. As thus disposed, when the device of theinvention is used as a blind, the arms ll obvi- Qusly "will notinterfere with the'vertical movementor, the-elcsureelement or ;;panel=1, buts-aremechanism 1 l-l i, and the means forproiecting the free endsof the arms ll into .thepath'rof movement of theclosure: panel Iupon-such re.- leasamay both-advantageouslyandeooncmicaily beembodied inresilient'elementssuch as springs 2| fixed to eachof therarms ti tobecompressed between said armsand the adjacent facesof the supportingframe .2 in thevertically de ending blind position of theframe members.5, .it being noted that said springs 21 cause the. arms .11: to bearresiliently 1 outwardly against the respective frame: members Eat thepoints 19..

Thus it will be seen that release of the latching mechanism byappropriate raising, of the closure element i will permit thespringsLZlto swing the arms I7 and frame members -5 outwardly, disposing the freeend extremities 2!] of the arms at'an angle to their respective guidesormembers 5 and swinging said extremitiesinto. the path of movement ofthe raised closure element] to be engaged and swung downwardlyby thelatter as it is thereafter lowered.

The bottom portion or lower-slat of the closure element or panel I isprovided with sockets or recesses .22 toreceive the freeend extremities2B, of therespective arms (see Figures 4 and'fil. The lower lip or ledge'23 which defines the lower edge of each such socketZZ isarranged andproportioned so as. toclear the initiallyslightlyprojected armextremities .26 during the initial downward movement of the elementorpanel :l fol.- lowing release of the latchmechanism H, sothat. saidextremities 2t may properly seat within. the sockets 22 and be swungdownwardly-duringlowering of .the element I. Howevenit willbe. notedthat theseledges 23 are of such widthgthatzafter. the closure element 1has been lowered sufficiently to initiate downward swinging oftheiarmsI1 and thus to increase-the extent to which their free extremitiesprojectinto the respective guide channels of.members 5, any subsequentupward I movement of panel 7 will cause theuledge 2 3 to function as ahook, engagingtheextremitieslll and retracting the arms iii upwardlytossubstantially their initially projectedgpositionsgwheree upontheledgesand arms willautomaticallyidisu engage to permit continuedupwardgmovement- Of the closure element .or panel ,In the preferredembodimentofthezinvention,

gravity is relied upon to cause lowering ofjhe panel or element la-ssame iszunwoundifrom the.

reel 9, and in order to provide sufllcientigravitational force theloweror bottomxslatnf the fiexiblepanel illustrated maybe fabricatedof:a.

substantially heavy or dense material .or otherwise. appropriatelyweighted, .or if desired, the forces of gravity may be supplemented by"resih ient or other suitable means acting to 'iurgethe paneldownwardly.

i Operation In the operation of. the invention, which is believed to bereadily apparent from the foregoing description, assuming that thedevice is positionedfor use asablind, as inFigure2, with the closurepanel. 3 drawn completelyto the bottom of the window opening, it-will beseenthat the closure panel .or element 7 may be freely raised andloweredin theframe members {'5 as desired, by suitable manipulationof the.reelil and within the range; permitted by I theisto sel, and8'..

When-it isdesiredtoswing the frame members 5 .outwardlyto erect thedevice for use as can awning, the reel 9 may be actuated fromtheinterior of the building structure to raise the closure element!slightly beyond the-point where the. stops =88 engage thev stops S -.8,thuslifting the entire frame 5-5 bodily to release the latch mechanismsll--H .and permit outward swinging .of the framemembers '5 and, arms.11, such outward swinging being substantially as shownin Figure 6,though in Figure 6 the various parts are-positioned in the extremepositions which they willor may assume under the momentum imparted tothem by the spring 2!, audit will be understood that the parts willreturn Lto. a stationary position in which thereleasedspring 2| restsagainst the frame 2 maintaining said parts suiiiciently outwardlyswungtoprevent reen agement of thelatch mechanism.

Thereafter, upon subsequent lowering of the closure element 1, the freeends or tips 2t of the armsil will bereceived in the respective sockets.22 ofthesaid element and swung downwardly thereby until the said arms I?abut against the lower ends .of their respective. slots H in the frame.members 5. Such downward swingingof the arms l'ill will resultinoutwardandupward swinging .of the frame .members 5, thus. erecting thedevicefor useas an'awning, as shown in. dotted lines in. Figure 4.

When it is desired toreconvert the device for use as a blind, this maybe readily accomplished by. rapidly raising the closure.- element orpanel. 1 to thus .raise-andretract the arms I 1 the raisingmovementibeingz carried past the point where the free ends 2d of thearmsll disengageifrom their respective sockets 22,,and resulting indownwardswinging of the. framemembers 5-5. This is done with sufficient speedthat by the, time the frame .members .5 have swung downward sufliciently.to commence,placingthe'springs 2 i under compression, they will havegatheredsumcient momentum to overcome the resistance of said springs andreturn to a completely lowered or vertically depending position, atwhichtime the latch mechanisms il--|l will-automatically reengage. .Suchire-engagement of. the latchmechanism will maintain the arms I? inretracted position, .as aforementioned, so that the closure element. Imay be lowered past their free ends Ell-Ziltbrough the frame members5-5to their respective..extensions-6-6 andcompletel-y to thebottomnf thewindow opening. If desiredlany suitablejlatch or lock means, such as theusual hook and cooperating eye, may be utilized to secure the closuremember I in closed position to the window sill 21 3, so that it cannotbe raised from the exteriorof the building in which-the device .ismounted, and thus the invention may blind, and,cooperatingilatching;means. carried :by

saidlframc rsnd-saidsupport'respectively to intereneagein the:saidwerticalpositionof the-frame and prevent swinging movement thereof,said means being disengageable responsive to upward displacement of theframe, in combination with means connecting said frame to said closureelement for upward movement therewith at a predetermined raised positionof the latter to cause release of the latching means, resilient meansoperable to swing said frame out of vertical position, therebypreventing reengagement of said latching means upon subsequent loweringof said element, and a rigid brace pivotally mounted on said supportbelow the swingable connection of said frame and swingable to hold saidframe in outwardly inclined position, the free end of said brace beingoperatively engaged by said closure element to be swung therebyresponsive to the sliding movement of said closure element, withconsequent swing of said frame.

' 2. A combined blind and awning comprising a support, a frame swingablydepending from said support-for movement about a horizontal axis, aflexible closure element movable upwardly and downwardly in said frameand means for causing such movement, latching mechanism operable tosecure said frame in vertically depending position for use as a blind,and means establishing an operable connection between said latchingmechanism and said closure element at a predetermined raised position ofthe latter whereby upward movement of said element beyond said positionwill release said latching mechanism, a rigid brace pivotally connectedto said support, said frame in its vertically depending positionabutting against said brace and maintaining same in an upwardly swungposition, the free end of said brace in such position being out of thepath of movement of said closure element, and resilient means tending toswing said brace outwardly and downwardly, whereby upon raising of saidclosure element beyond said position for releasing said latchingmechanism, said resilient means will simultaneously swing said brace andsaid frame to non-vertical positions wherein the free end of the bracewill be disposed in the path of movement of the raised closure elementto be engaged thereby and swung downwardly during subsequent loweringthereof, whereby the frame will be swung outwardly and upwardly to causethe device to function as an awning.

3. A combined blind and awning comprising a support, a frame swingablydepending from said support for movement about a horizontal axis, aflexible closure element movable upwardly and downwardly in said frameand means for causing such movement, latching mechanism operable tosecure said frame in vertically depending position for use as a blind,and means establishing an operable connection between said latch ingmeans and said closure element at a predetermined raised position of thelatter whereby upward movement of said element beyond said position willrelease said mechanism, a rigid brace pivotally connected to saidsupport on a horizontal axis for vertical swinging, said frame in itsvertically depending position abutting against said brace andmaintaining same in an upwardly swung position, the free end of saidbrace in such position being out of the path of movement of said closureelement, and resilient means tending to swing said brace outwardly anddownwardly whereby upon raising of said closure element beyond saidposition for releasing said said latching mechanism, said resilientmeans will simultaneously swing said brace and said six frame tonon-vertical positions wherein the free end of the brace will bedisposed in the path of movement of the raised closure element to beengaged thereby and swung downwardly during subsequent lowering thereof,whereby the frame will be swung outwardly and upwardly to cause thedevice to function as an awning.

4. A combined blind and awning comprising a support, a frame swingablydepending from said support for movement about a horizontal axis, aflexible closure element movable upwardly and downwardly in said frameand means for causing such movement, latching mechanism operable tosecure said frame in vertically depending position for use as a blind,and means establishing an operable connection between said latchingmechanism and said closure element at a predetermined raised position ofthe latter, whereby upward movement of said element beyond said positionwill release said mechanism, a rigid brace pivotally connected to saidsupport on a horizontal axis for vertical swinging, said frame in itsvertically depending position abutting against said brace andmaintaining same in an upwardly swung position, the free end of saidbrace in such position being out of the path of movement of said closureelement, and resilient means tending to swing said brace outwardly anddownwardly upon release of said latching mechanism, the free end of saidbrace being disposed in the path of movement of the closure element whensaid brace is swung outwardly by said resilient means and being engagedand swung downwardly by said closure element upon subsequent loweringthereof with consequent swinging of the frame to awning position.

5. A combined blind and awning comprising a support, a frame swingablydepending from said support, a flexible closure element movable upwardlyand downwardly in said frame and means for causing such movement,latching mechanism operable to maintain said frame in vertical positionfor use as a blind, and means establishing an operable connectionbetween said latching mechanism and said closure element at apredetermined raised position of the latter, whereby upward movement ofsaid element beyond said position will release said mechanism, a rigiderecting arm pivotally connected to said support on a horizontal axisfor swinging move ment in a vertical plane, said frame in its verticallydepending position engaging said arm and maintaining same in an upwardlyretracted position out of the path of movement of said closure element,and means for projecting said arm into the path of movement of saidclosure element responsive to release of said latching mechanism,whereby the said arm will be engaged and swung downwardly by saidclosure element upon lowering of the latter to swing said frame toawning position.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the lower extremity of theclosure element is provided with a socket to receive and cooperate withthe free end of said erecting arm, said socket opening toward said frameand being defined by an upper wall extending substantially across thepath of movement of said element to engage and lower said arm, and alower ledge projecting only part way across said path of movement toclear said arm in its initially projected position and permit receptionof same in said socket during downward movement of said element, saidlower ledge engaging said arm during upward movement of said closureelement and returning said arm to its initially projected position.

7. A combined blind and awning comprising, a support, a frame swingablydepending from said support, said frame comprising relativelyhorizontally spaced parallel guides, a closure element slidable in saidguides radially of the axis of swinging movement of said guides, incombination with a rigid erecting arm pivotally mounted on said supportand vertically swingable thereon, the free end of said arm engaging saidclosure element and being swingable upwardly or downwardly responsive tothe sliding movement of said element in said guides, thereby swingingsaid frame relative to said support.

8. A combination blind and awning comprising a support, a frame mountedon said support and swingable in a vertical plane, a closure elementslidable in said frame radially to the swinging movement thereof, incombination with a rigid arm pivotally mounted on said support andswingable simultaneously with the movement of said frame, the free endof said arm being operatively engaged by said closure element to be 10swung thereby responsive to the sliding movement of said element,thereby swinging said frame.

9. In a blind construction having a vertically swingable and verticallyupwardly displaceable frame, together with means for upwardly displacingsaid frame, latching means operative in the vertically dependingposition of said frame to prevent swinging thereof, said means beingdisengaged by vertical displacement of said frame, in combination withresilient means thrusting against said frame and operative upon releaseof said latching means to swing said frame out of vertical position,thereby preventing reengagement of said latching means uponsubstantially vertical replacement of said frame.

10. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the closure elementcomprises means operable during the raising of said element to engagesaid erecting arm and retract same upwardly with said element.

SALVADOR M. DEL RIO.

N 0 references cited.

